Covenant to Care Congregation, 1992
A Covenant to Care Congregation accepts into worship and accepts as a part of that community of faith persons who have tested positive for HIV, those who have AIDS, and their families, partners, and loved ones who are affected by these conditions. Such congregations celebrate the strengths and gifts of all persons in every stage of health. They accept Christ's call to ministries of healing and love.
We became a Covenant to Care Congregation in March 1992.

• We collect and deliver personal care and medical items to AIDS Ministries each month.
• We have had speakers come and talk about HIV and AIDS.
• We have hosted the AIDS Day Ecumenical Service for the area
• For many years we have participated in fund-raising activities for AIDS Ministries.

Open and Affirming Congregation, 1993
In late 1991, the Elders and interested Board members began a study to make sure we included all people in our community of faith. This study included:

• study of the scriptures,
• reviewing literature from our denomination,
• review of materials created by Open and Affirming Congregations,
• material about other groups often affected by bias and prejudice,
• discussions and review of the potential impact on individuals in the congregation,
• examination of our own spiritual position on these issues

After several months of study, the committee was ready to make this recommendation to the board – that the congregation embark on a study to discuss:

• the issues pertinent to all of us but which directly affect gay/lesbian Christians and also all people affected by AIDS and the HIV virus
• those who have been hurt by sexism, ageism, racism, and other prejudices which serve to destroy the gifts of each of us rather than empowering all of us to know we are greatly loved children of God.

This was accomplished by three sermons by the minister, each of which were followed by a congregational discussion, led by one of the elders. People asked questions, shared answers and comments – it was a time of sharing our faith and of strengthening our feelings that this is what God is calling us to do.

On February 7, 1993, by secret ballot, our congregation unanimously voted to approve our statement of love and community. We became an Open and Affirming Congregation – at this time (2004), we are the only Open and Affirming Christian Church (DOC) Congregation in Indiana.